Rié was glad that her mother and her son had been forming a connection unbeknownst to her. Two people that she loved also loved each other without the need for her to mediate their affection. And sharing in their sadness and isolation, they were trying to soothe each other’s pain and assuage each other’s loneliness. For Rié, it was a mysterious joy, and the mere thought of what they might be talking about when she wasn’t around brought a ticklish warmth to her breast.
